They’re doing it as part of Halloween for Hunger, a Free the Children initiative.

“We’re lucky enough to always have cupboards full of food and roofs over our heads, whereas families in our own community have to decide every day between a roof over their head or food for their stomachs,” said Grade 11 student Kirsten Hinlopen.

“Putting on a costume and asking for a simple food donation really isn’t that hard.”

Last year, after attending the We Day conference in Vancouver, which is organized by Free the Children, and promotes youth making a difference in their local and global communities, Hinlopen and a few of her classmates set out for canned goods on Halloween night.

With hardly any advanced noticed, the teenagers had managed to collect 300 cans by the end of the evening.

“I was so surprised by how well it went,” said Hinlopen.

And now, with more than 30 students participating, the leadership class hopes to raise at least 1,000 cans this year.

“It is such a simple, fun way to get involved in the community,” said Hinlopen. “We still get to dress up, be with our friends and the knowledge that together we are making a difference in even one person’s life is an added bonus.

“People are always doing canned food drives at Christmas, which is great, but you don’t really think about the rest of the year. We want to keep the food bank supplied year round.”